In other news, one McDonnell Douglas #MD88 (ex-EC-FND) formerly belonging to Iberia, was ferried to Teruel airport prior to her long delivery flight to Venezuela. skyliner-aviation reports that this aircraft will belong to „Jet Plus America“ and the aircraft will be operated by „VOR Airlines“. Other sources say that this MD-88 will become part of Venezolana. The re-activitation of an ex-MD-80 of Iberia is a surprise due to the long storage after Iberia retired their last MD-88 in 2008.

Since the official beginning of Meridiana in 1991, the company operated the McDonnell Douglas MD-80. On the last day of October 2017, Meridiana plans to operate their last scheduled MD-80-flight with a service from Rome to Olbia. Meridiana operated up to 17 MD-80s over the years.

Yesterday (September 24th, 2017), Aeropostal ceased its operations after their last active MD-82 was retired from service. The finanacially-strapped airline seems to be not able to cover the costs for the required major maintenance, thus ending the 88-year history of Aeropostal. A total of four MD-80s are grounded and the INAC – the Civil Aviation Directorate in Venezuela – informed the decision to suspend operations.

Venezuelan airlines suffering from financial problems for years due to problematic economical and political situation.

American Airlines retired 20 of their remaining MD-80s on August 23rd, 2016, reducing the official size of their MD-80-fleet to 61 aircraft. The company gradually retired a large number of MD-80, but the retirement of 20 aircraft within one day is seen as a remarkable move.

The fleet will be reduced to 53 aircraft at the end of the third quarter of 2016 and it is believed that a small number will remain until the summer of 2018.

According to ch-aviation.com, DAT (Danish Air Transport) plans to cease MD-80-ops and the remaining MD-83 is now offered for sale. The 165-seat aircraft – originally delivered to Airtours International in 1990 – was used alongside an MD-87 as their biggest aircraft prior to the introduction of the 180-seat Airbus A320. DAT also operates ATR42/72s as well as mentioned Airbus A320s.

Allegiant Air has placed an order for twelve new Airbus A320s. This marks the first order for new aircraft in the history of this company. Deliveries of these A320s will take place between 2017 and 2018.

Allegiant plans to replace their MD-80-fleet by 2019 with a mix of Airbus A319/320s. The small Boeing 757-fleet will also be retired.

Hawaiian Airlines stated on July 21st 2016, that an agreement was reached for two additional Boeing 717-aircraft. Both aircraft will be delivered in early 2017 and the aircraft will allow Hawaiian Airlines „to add capacity during peak travel periods“.

Both aircraft will be leased for six years and both frames are currently in service with Volotea Airlines.

Argentine company Andes Líneas Aéreas plans to replace their MD-80-fleet with Airbus A319s. The current fleet will be replaced by four A319s. Andes celebrated their 10th-anniversary a few days ago. Most sources claim that Andes currently operates four MD-80s and the introduction of the A319 would mean a 1:1-replacement of the MD-80-fleet.